Employee Spotlight #3: We are excited to shine this week’s employee spotlight on Chrissie Beliveau. Chrissie has been with Tata & Howard for more than ten years and serves as the company’s Marketing Coordinator. Wearing many hats, Chrissie assists in all request for proposals/qualifications, and a variety of marketing tasks, including tradeshow planning, collateral design, advertising, and more.
In her free time she enjoys mountain biking, hiking, traveling, and spending time with her two grandchildren, Max and Luna, and her soon-to-be-born twin grandchildren. In addition, Chrissie has started experimenting with stained glass, and is looking forward to taking classes to further expand her knowledge in the art.
Her most memorable travel experience was a family trip she took to Italy, where she traveled from Milan to Rome. Exploring her true Italian roots from her father who was born and raised in the mountains of Parma (where parmesan cheese was created) – the trip provided a special opportunity to visit relatives and view pieces of her natural heritage.
Chrissie’s favorite part about working for Tata & Howard is having the opportunity to work with each team member. She truly loves being a part of the team and enjoys working with all levels and personalities, while learning more about engineering in the water industry.
Employee Spotlight #2: Today we are shining our employee spotlight on Peter Goodwin. Peter joined Tata & Howard as an Associate in the fall of 2019 and has enjoyed his time thus far helping clients to solve problems successfully.
With Civil Engineering degrees from the University of Maine – Orono and Northeastern University, Peter’s passion for infrastructure planning, design, construction, and system operation/maintenance has spanned across nearly four decades and four firms/organizations. Peter is Past-President of the New Hampshire Water Pollution Control Association along with being State Director for the Maine Water Environment Association (2012-2015). He is involved in several NEWEA, NHWWA, NHWPCA, MWUA, and MEWEA committees and has developed many professional relationships through the experience.
Since joining T&H, Peter’s favorite project has been the construction of the New Hampton Road Water Main Improvements for the City of Franklin, NH. While challenges presented themselves in the face of a pandemic, it was great to see the project completed under budget with two miles of additional roadway reconstruction negotiated with the general contractor and NHDES SRF Program.
When he’s not completing water, sewer, stormwater, and environmental consulting projects, Peter enjoys golfing, playing hockey, skiing and traveling. Some of his favorite trips include a post college cross-country trek in a conversion van with his best friend that allowed for visiting family and touring National Parks, as well as skiing in Austria, and exploring Italy.
A rise in COVID-19 cases across the United States has forced some utilities to reconsider staffing plans and to reevaluate past preparedness strategies in order to continue to provide clean, safe drinking water and sanitary services to the customers. While utilities may be more prepared now than at the start of the pandemic, additional work is needed on documenting plans and procedures. By preparing written plans, a utility can be stronger and more prepared for any emergency.
When should a staggered workforce be implemented?
Does the utility have the proper written protocols in place?
Has the utility defined all critical positions?
Have back-ups been identified for each critical position?
How do we keep staff safe?
By answering these and other questions, a plan can be developed and easily followed by all staff members. A well thought out plan leaves little room for interpretation and clearly defines the roles and responsibilities as well as the hierarchy of authority. Development of a pandemic response plan can be incorporated into the overall emergency response plan required by EPA for all public water systems serving more than 3,300 people.
Tata & Howard is offering multiple levels of assistance with pandemic preparedness. Whether it is a 4-hour virtual workshop with key staff (3.5 TCH offered) or a 2-hour virtual discussion to outline the framework for a pandemic response plan. Our emergency preparedness experts are available to assist your utility navigate these uncertain times.
For more information, or to schedule your virtual meeting, please contact Karen Gracey, P.E. at 508.219.4021 or kgracey@tataandhoward.com.
On May 31, 1889, the South Fork Dam near Johnstown, Pennsylvania collapsed during a large storm. The failure of this dam claimed 2,209 lives as 20 million tons of water flooded the town. Prior to the dam failure, dam safety awareness was minimal and was not widely recognized. Now, 131 years later, strong dam safety programs, investment in America’s critical infrastructure, and dedication to public-private partnerships are just as crucial. The importance of Dam Safety Awareness must continue growing to assure America’s dams are safe, resilient, and operational.
Garrison Dam – ND
Dams in America
There are more than 90,000 dams in the United States that have been built to maximize the use of our most valuable resource – water. They serve several functions including water supply for agricultural, community, domestic, and industrial use; flood control; recreation; and renewable energy.
Water Storage – Dams create reservoirs that supply water for irrigation, domestic and commercial water supply, recreation, fire control, and more.
Flood Control – Damns aid in reduced flooding and erosion.
Irrigation – Ten percent of the water used by American cropland is stored behind dams.
Renewable Energy – Dams produce 8-12 percent of the nation’s power needs via hydropower. Without hydropower, the United States would have to burn an additional 121 million tons of coal, 27 billion barrels of oil, and 741 billion cubic feet of natural gas.
Recreation – Boating, fishing, swimming, and camping are just some of the recreational activities that take place as a result of hydropower created by dams.
Dam Safety Issues in America
Safe operation and maintenance of dams are critical when it comes to avoiding potential dam failure and disaster. With tens of thousands of dams across the country, many of which are approaching their life expectancy, it’s important to be on the lookout for dams with high-hazard potential. High-hazard potential dams climbed to more than 15,000 in 2018, and only continue to grow due to growing populations. This increase is known as ‘hazard creep’. Hazard creep describes the growth of development such as people, buildings, and businesses, that moves closer to dams.
Investing in Dams
Dams are a major piece of our country’s critical infrastructure, and investment is needed to rehabilitate those that are deficient.
Dam on the Green River, upstream from the Green River Covered Bridge, near Brattleboro, Vermont.
Why do dams need upgrading?
Deterioration
Changing technical standards over time
Improved techniques for building
Increases in population
Better understanding of precipitation patterns in areas
Changing land use
Upgrading a dam when it reaches an increased hazard potential is critical for the integrity of the dam structure as well as the safety of those living in the vicinity. The problem that dam owners have (especially on the private side) is the difficulty in funding the upgrades.
The Association of State Dam Safety Officials have tracked dam rehabilitation costs for non high-hazard and high-hazard dams since 2004.
Recreational Dam Safety Awareness
Outside of critical infrastructure, dams provide recreational opportunities for boaters, swimmers, kayakers and more. Unfortunately, there are dozens of deaths on American waterways each year that take place at structures called ‘low-head’ dams.
Low-head dams are low in height and typically have a 1-15 foot drop off, allowing water to flow off the dam. Below the drop off, water falling from the dam can create circulating currents that can trap people and objects underwater against the face of the dam. The force of the water is extremely strong, and these structures have earned the title of ‘drowning machines.’
Many people are unaware of the dangers associated with dams which is why it is so important to educate communities of dam safety.
Click here to learn more about public safety around dams.
With shelter in place orders in effect throughout the country due to COVID-19, more people are at home now than ever before. For the last eight weeks, 90 percent of individuals and families have occupied much of their time inside, and residential water usage has spiked across many parts of the nation.
Why Be Mindful?
During a time of economic uncertainty, it is important to be mindful of how much water we use, specifically to keep utility bills low and to reduce waste. While it is inevitable that our water usage will go up while being at home, we should be consciously aware of where and how we use water.
What Products Use the Most Water?
Before you begin thinking about your water usage, it’s important to understand which household items use it the most.
Outdoor Irrigation Systems – with spring in bloom, many people are landscaping their yards. Planting grass and flowers, and even dealing with weeds requires a lot of water. In fact, 30 percent of water consumption within the home comes from water irrigation systems. Check out a previous blog post on saving water in your yard.
Toilets -Toilets account for about 20 percent of water usage in the home. Many newer toilets are designed with water conservation in mind, but if you live in an older home with original fixtures, you could be using up to 50 gallons (or more) a day just by flushing the toilet.
Washing Machines – Washing machines make up roughly 15 percent of in-home water usage. Newer machines use 15-30 gallons per wash, but older machines can use up to 45 gallons.
Showers – Showers account for about 12 percent of household water usage. For families of two or more, this number can increase.
Faucets – Sinks and bathroom faucets make up another 11 percent of water usage, with an additional 13 percent come from leaks.
Reducing Wasted Water
With the above water usages in mind, learn how you can stop wasting water while you’re home due to COVID-19.
Watch out for leaks – check your sinks, faucets, toilets, and other pipes to assure that there are no leaks. Leaky pipes can seem harmless, but over time, hundreds of gallons of water go to waste.
Take shorter showers – Did you know that by cutting your shower time by just two minutes a day can save nearly 2,000 gallons of water each year?
Turn off water when brushing teeth – When you start your teeth brushing, be sure to only use the faucet when it’s time to rinse.
Hand wash your dishes – If you can avoid using your dishwasher daily, you can save up to 3 gallons of water per day.
Be mindful with lawn care – Watering your grass in the early morning or late evening will avoid the chance of it evaporating during the middle of the day.
While we may not have all the answers when it comes to COVID-19, these simple strategies will save water and money during the pandemic.
Water is the common denominator for every living thing on earth. Without it, we simply cannot survive.
But even though this resource is so critical, 785 million people around the world lack access to safe water. According to a report by the World Economic Forum, the water crisis is the #4 global risk in terms of impact to society.
Learn more about the water crisis in the water crisis infographic below as well as ways in which you can help.
Click here to download the full, PDF version of the Water Crisis Infographic.
The Water Environment Federation (WEF) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have been making updates to keep citizens abreast of all information concerning coronavirus and its effects on drinking water and wastewater.
The Facts from WEF
To date, there is no epidemiological evidence of viable COVID-19 virus in wastewater systems.
It appears that contracting COVID-19 through exposure to wastewater is unlikely.
WEF is working to keep wastewater workers protected from disease causing microorganisms and pathogens by forming a Blue Ribbon Panel to address the issue of required PPE as well as protective work and hygiene practices.
The Facts from CDC
There is no evidence that coronavirus survives the disinfection process for drinking water and wastewater.
The virus has not been detected in drinking water
Risk of transmission through feces is expected to be low based on data from previous outbreaks of related coronaviruses including SARS and MERS
Risk of transmission through sewerage systems is thought to be low
No coronavirus-specific protections are required for employees involved in wastewater management operations, including those working at wastewater treatment facilities.
Workers should follow their routine practices to prevent exposure to wastewater as they normally would. This includes using engineering and administrative controls, safe work practices, and PPE that is typically required when handling untreated wastewater.
Water workers should continue:
Wearing appropriate protective gear including gloves, boots, goggles, or face shield masks
Washing hands frequently
Avoiding touching of the nose, eyes, and mouth
For more information specifically related to the water sector during the pandemic, visit the WEF website here.
The following resources are also available to the public:
WEF Executive Round Table Series – Round table discussions (on video) on how the virus is affecting operations, business, and people, as well as the impacts and future changes on the workforce, productivity, projects, communication, and more. Each round table will be hosted by Walt Marlowe, WEF Executive Director.
Biological Hazards Resource – Access Water, powered by WEF, has a manual on the Safety, Health and Security of Wastewater Systems. The chapter “Biological Hazards at Wastewater Treatment Facilities” is available for free, and the whole manual is being offered at 50 percent off its original price.
Assistance for Worker Safety – Several water sector partners have offered their assistance to WEF to provide products to protect and maintain the health of water sector workers. Interested in helping? Click here to get in touch with WEF to learn how you can assist.
Webinars – there are several webinars available surrounding coronavirus subjects and the effect on the water sector. View them all here.
Please keep in mind that as the nature of the virus evolves, so too does the information and resources. Be sure to check back on the WEF website for daily updates.
From the moment a project opens, to the day it reaches completion, communication between the engineering project manager and client is critical. In fact, the success or failure of the project is hinged on efficient, effective, and timely communication. With so many moving pieces involved, communication is key for understanding project scope, demands, and expectations. Continue reading and dive into five critical communication skills for the successful completion of engineering projects.
1 – Communicate Often
Frequent communication, whether verbal or written, is a key element to a successful project. Communication is now in the form of telephone calls, emails, and video conferencing. Keeping everyone informed and updated on the progress and status of their job needs to continue despite not being able to physically meet.
2 – Listen
Often when thinking about communicating, speaking is typically what comes to mind. But perhaps more important is what happens on the other end – listening. Listening (and listening well) is crucial during all phases of a project. From the get-go, gather questions, requests, concerns, ideas, and goals before doing anything else. The entire team, engineer and owner, need to be on the same page through every phase. Train yourself to listen to hear, rather than listen to respond. Should you need additional insights or direction, continue keeping the line of communication open.
3 – Master Public Speaking and Presenting
We strive to make our clients’ jobs easier. With that, we need to master both public speaking and expressing our professional opinion in an easily understood manner. As a project manager in the water industry, we work a lot with municipalities and/or private companies. This could mean presenting to boards, councils, or departments, in big groups or small. Mastering the art of public speaking and presenting is critical for conveying our message. This entails knowing the audience and tailoring our language, tone and presentation to that particular group. Are they well versed in the industry? If the group is not as familiar with certain terminology or project elements, complex ideas need to be simplified for better understanding.
4 – Check-In During Non-Project Times
Checking in with clients during times when there are no projects is equally as important as when there are projects in progress. The down time in between projects can serve as an excellent opportunity to stay informed about client projects coming down the pipeline, as well as provide updates on similar projects your firm is working on.
5 – Be Clear, Concise, and Confident
With so much going on throughout a project, being able to communicate clearly and concisely is critical. While communication is certainly valuable, so too is time. Brevity is recommended, when possible. The following tendencies that keep most people from being brief are:
The tendency to over-explain
The tendency to be unprepared
The tendency to miss the point
If you come prepared with your main focus in mind, you will be successful in communicating a clear and concise message. Do that by:
The Makeup of the Water and Wastewater Utility Workforce
In an ever-changing workforce, getting, keeping, and replacing staff is a key component to managing system assets for the indefinite sustainability of the utility. We are now in an era where the water industry is filled with three major groups of working professionals: Baby Boomers, Generation Xers, Generation Yers (also known as Millennials), and Generation Zers (also known as Plurals.)
Baby Boomers
The Baby Boomers were born between 1946 and 1964 and are often time the more senior leaders or employees within the company. Overall, this group of workers have a strong work ethic. They’re not adverse to the risk of trying something new and generally see themselves as able to do anything.
This group is also in or approaching retirement age. They hold vast amounts of system and industry knowledge, yet, as an industry, we do not do a good enough job working to secure this long-term employee knowledge.
Generation X
The Generation Xers we born between 1965 to 1976. Growing up in the decade following the Cold War, they saw the inception of the home computer, video games and the internet as a tool for commercial and social purposes. They’re typically independent, resourceful, and self-sufficient. They value freedom and responsibility in the workplace and are known to display a casual disdain for authority and structured work hours.
Generation Y
Workers in Generation Y, also known as millennials, were born between 1977 and 1996. This group is more likely to question authority and demand answers. Workers in this group as known to be creative thinkers, social beings, collaborative, and open-minded. They are known as masters of instant communications and typically want to be involved in the decision-making process.
Generation Z
The newest generation of professionals in the workforce are the ones born between 1997 and now. They are known as the Plurals and are the most ethnically diverse population to date. They are least likely to believe in the ‘American Dream’ and are very entrepreneurial and resourceful. This group grew up with technology at their fingertips, and mobile phones as their primary source of information and communication.
Coming into Leadership
For the most part, Baby Boomers are/have been in leadership roles within the water industry for the last few decades. In fact, most people in the current day workforce likely can’t recall a workforce without this generation. According to the American Water Works Association’s 2019 State of the Water Industry report, 45% of respondents have spent 20 or more years in the industry. As leaders, Baby Boomers hold vast amounts of knowledge that is going to be difficult to replace by the up-and-coming generations.
As they near the age of retirement, the Gen X, Gen Y and Gen Z professionals are now in a position to step up into vacant roles. But are they ready? Do they have the knowledge? And more importantly, do they have what it takes to be a good leader?
Qualities of a Leader
Inspire others
Effective communicators
Delegate based on identifying different strengths
Have a solid vision of where they want to take you and why
Have been a ‘follower’
Listens well
Empowers those around them
Responsibilities of a Leader
Making tough decisions
Making unpopular decisions
Making decisions on the basis of facts
Being fair in all dealings
Ability to be stern as well as compassionate
A Good Leader Does Not
Worry about giving back more than they are given
Strive to be or appear to be more than they really are
Make decisions based on the fear of other people’s reactions
Turn away from change when change is necessary
Identifying Future Leaders and Managers
As current leaders move toward retirement (at a rate of 10,000 per day,) it’s critical to have a plan in place for obtaining the next group of leaders and managers. The succession planning process requires identification of organizational needs based on upcoming retirements and who will fill that role from within the organization or if an outside search is required. Once the person is identified, co-creation of an individualized development plan is essential to provide the next generation with the tools to succeed in the position. Equally as important is follow through on the development plans.
Managing People
As new managers emerge into the space, they will have a lot of ground to cover. The most important, of course, is getting to know other staff members, and allowing staff the same thing in return.
Creating a culture of accountability is key. A good manager or leader must lead by example. This includes doing what they say they will do. In addition, setting and communicating clear expectations is crucial as well as providing an opportunity for feedback.
Stepping into a leadership role also includes looking at the business from a new perspective. What areas should be looked at with a new set of eyes?
Job descriptions – make sure they are all up to date.
Effective Practice Guidelines (EPGs) – formerly SOPs.
Performance measures – make sure they are realistic.
Training – be sure that new and seasoned staff alike are properly and fully trained on all procedures and protocols.
Technology – what new advancements can aid in your utility’s success?
Always Ask Questions
As a leader or manager, there are always questions you should be asking yourself. Some of these include:
Am I identifying opportunities for improvement?
Do I have a structured, programmatic approach to managing, operating and maintaining my utility?
Do I have a plan that describes what I do, when I do it, and most importantly, WHY I do it?
Am I communicating clearly?
What works well, what does not work well, and why?
How is morale among staff?
Tips for Future Leaders
Leading people doesn’t necessarily come naturally. Your success will be based on the effort you put in.
You must want to be in this position. It is very demanding, and you must be responsible and accountable.
Provide the framework for a structured and programmatic approach to managing, operating, and maintaining your utility in a more business-like manner.
Final Notes on Getting, Growing, Keeping, and Replacing the Best Staff
Listen to understand, not just to respond
Communicate effectively
Help staff be accountable
Be sincere, genuine, and show you truly care
“If you want to move people, it has to be toward a vision that’s positive for them, that taps important values, that gets them something they desire and it has to be presented in a compelling way so that they feel inspired to follow.” – Martin Luther King, Jr”
Did you know that every single drop of water on earth has existed for billions of years? The water in the oceans, rivers, ice-caps, storm clouds, and even inside of us has been perpetually cycling through the planet since it first arrived.
According to geochemical studies, it has been said that water arrived on earth with asteroids from space. The molecules that form water were on an incredible voyage, likely for millions of years, before they reached our planet. And while water is such a familiar aspect of our world, larger bodies of water formed hundreds of millions of years after the planet took shape.
So aside from the notion that any and all drops of water we have encountered have been inside of oceans and dinosaurs – what else makes water so strange?
Breaking All the Rules
For one, water simply does not follow the ‘normal’ rules of chemistry. Given the properties of its makeup, water should exist as a gas. A water molecule is made from two very light atoms – hydrogen and oxygen. At the ambient conditions on the surface of the earth (temperature and pressure), this molecule should be a gas. For example, hydrogen sulfide is a gas even though it has twice the molecular weight of water.
Freezing and Floating
Another strange thing about water is that when it freezes, it expands. Most substances shrink when they transform from a liquid to a solid since molecules are packing more densely together. Think about what happens when you fill an ice tray with water. The next morning, ice is protruding out over the edge of the tray. On top of that, the frozen water floats. What happens when you drop any other solid into a liquid? It sinks. This phenomenon is called hydrogen bonding and occurs when polar ends with opposite charges of water molecules attract to other water molecules. The bond is not strong though and can be broken by heating the solid over 0 degrees Celsius.
Freezing Cold Hot
You might have noticed at some point or another that hot water freezes faster than cold water. This is known as the Mpemba effect. For hundreds of years, scientists and mathematicians have been trying to figure this out – but it was not until 2013 when something clicked. A research assistant at the University of Zagreb claims that convection currents in warm water cause it to cool more rapidly.
Up, Up and Away
Gravity – what goes up, must come down. Not necessarily with water though. Water molecules can float upwards against the force of gravity. This process is called capillary action.
